Prayer and Scripture Study Discussion Notes

Hello everyone!
On Sunday October 11, we went over Elder Renlund's talk from the Sunday afternoon session of general conference. Please read/watch/listen to it again to get the full message.

In relief society we went over several ideas of ways to keep tabs on where we are spiritually (like taking a biopsy of your heart to see how healthy the tissue is) and the medicine we need to be taking daily (prayer and scripture study) to stay spiritually strong.

The following lists are ideas for keeping things fresh that we discussed on Sunday. Thanks to all for sharing!

Biopsy ideas: (Get a feel for where you are what you need to be working on)

Read Alma chapter 5
Preach my gospel page 126 - take an average of each category to see highs and lows
Ask the Lord what you should be working on
Ask family members/friends
Go to your own sacred grove
Take quiet time to think (alone :) )
Go to the temple - the answers that you receive there are from the Lord
Take paper and pencil with you to sacrament meeting and write down thoughts you have from what people say
Go to husband who can see where you need to do better.
Read patriarchal blessing
Listen/study conference
Don't look at all that you need to be doing and become discouraged!!! Pick ONE thing.

Daily Medication:

Improving prayer

Write outline before you pray to keep you on topic and your mind from wandering
Keep prayer journal - what you ask for and what you receive
Lifesaver Challenge!! - put a life saver mint candy in your mouth & pray until it's gone (no chewing!)
Praise the Lord - read Psalms
Read about Prayer in the bible dictionary
Pray out loud
Pray in the temple
Pray in private
When you pray visualize Heavenly Father being there
Pray and then go about your day without closing the prayer to see how it affects your behavior
Study prayer
Use husband as "built in prayer helper" - this will help your prayers and your marriage!
Thank Heavenly Father for what you have
Be patient! It takes time to be at the level that you want to be
Have daily devotionals with the Lord
Write a problem that you are having down and as you read scriptures and pray write what stands out to you

scripture study

Write down what you learn
Blog posts to share what you learned with others
Read Jesus the Christ - and lots of other scripture helper books ("Isaiah: Prophet, Seer, Poet" by Victor Ludlow, "Who's Who in the Doctrine and Covenants" by Susan Easton Black, and many many others)
Take advantage of BYU classes and religion manuals
Look at online manuals
Go to lds.org - gospel library - gospel topics- and read about everything!
Preach my Gospel
Study the Hymns
Read an entire book of scripture just by the chapter headings to get the big picture
Read a book of scripture backwards chapter by chapter! (Just to switch things up.)
Think: I want to see how scriptures apply to...[topic of your choice] (i.e. the atonement, faith, hope, etc.)
Apply what you read to your life, make it your own
Have your husband help you!
Read with breakfast!
Pair scripture study with something that you love
Express what you are learning in a creative way: write, compose music, paint a picture, make a monument/reminder/expression of what you have learned and how the Lord has taught you. This can also be an expression of praise and gratitude for things you have learned and/or accomplished with the Lord's help.